INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Vincennes University Track and Field teams looked to have hit their stride Saturday as the Trailblazers took part in the University of Indianapolis Track & Field Classic.
Vincennes came away with seven first-place finishes on the day, including five for the VU men's team and two by the women's team.
The Vincennes men's team was led by freshman Mathew Keitany (Kenya) whose first place finish in the 3000 meter race was good enough to qualify for Nationals with a time of 8:52.16.
Vincennes dominated the men's 800 meter race, have the first four finishers with sophomore Manamanya Opiew (Indianapolis, Ind.) taking the top spot at 2:03.79.
Sophomore Trenton Faulkner (Vincennes, ind.) took a close second at 2:04.00.
Freshmen Ernest Momodu (Indianapolis, Ind.) and Ian Boit took third and fourth place respectively, with Momodu finishing with a time of 2:07.37 and Boit finishing at 2:18.68.
Freshman Nicholas Stanislaus (Grenada) took home two first place finishes. Earning the top spot in the Long Jump and Triple Jump with a distance of 6.75 meters in the long jump and 13.34 meters in the triple jump.
The 4x400 meter relay team of Faulkner, Momodu, Opiew and Boit finished first for Vincennes, ending with a time of 3:50.11.
VU sophomore Kyle Stewart (Evansville, Ind.) also placed second in the men's 60 meter race at 7.26 seconds and sophomore Matthew Frazier took home third-place in the Pole Vault after clearing 4.03 meters.
"The highlight of the day was definitely Mathew Keitany qualifying for Nationals in the 3000," VU Track and Field Head Coach Marty Rogier said. "His time has him currently ranked 13th in that event. Assistant Coach Tyler Steigenga believes he can run much faster not only in the 3000 but also in the mile, where he is just off the qualifying mark after only one race."
"Manamanya and Trenton ran a fun race together to win the 800 as well," Rogier added. "I think they were talking smack to each other while they ran."
"Nicholas Stanislaus, in his first meet, won the long jump and triple jump. He wasn't really close to his full ability, but it is a start. Kyle Stewart, who is currently ranked fourth in the country, struggled to find the board and did not perform well, even though he did make the finals of the 60.
"Mason Harmes and Jaylen Rush set new PR's in the weight throw, but missed the podium at 13.06 and 12.74 meters."
The Vincennes women's team got first place finishes out of freshman Brittany Page (Bicknell, Ind.) and sophomore Kyra Young (South Bend, Ind.).
Page took home first-place in the 800 meter race with a time of 2:39.51.
Young outpaced the field in the 3000 meter race to finish at 11:17.00.
Freshman Hope Laughlin (Olney, Ill.) took came in sixth in both the 800 and 3000 meter races. Finishing in 2:53.53 in the 800 and 12:39.23 in the 3000 meter.
Sophomore Chloe Knepp (Montgomery, Ind.) placed second in the 400 meter race, ending with a time of 1:04.34.
The VU 4x400 Relay team of Knepp, Young, Page and sophomore Kaitlyn Koenig also placed in the second, with a time of 4:42.40.
Vincennes freshman Giorgia Fino (Italy) rounded out the Trailblazer podium members after placing eighth in the shot put event after a throw of 9.68 meters.
"We had several first place finishes today," Rogier added. "Kyra Young ran mostly all alone in the 3000 and Brittany Page won the 800."
"Chloe Knepp set a new personal best in the 400 and placed second as well," Rogier added.
The VU Track and Field teams will look to continue to improve and gain National qualifiers next Friday, Jan. 28 when Vincennes travels to Louisville, Ky. to take part in the Tiger Paw Classic at the University of Louisville.
"We head to Louisville next week where we will need to hit some good marks to qualify for the Big Meet at Grand Valley State in a few weeks," Rogier said. "We are going to have to get in some good work to compete well in the upcoming meets."
VINCENNES RESULTS
MEN'S RESULTS
60 Meter
Kyle Stewart – 2, 7.26
800 Meter
Manamanya Opiew – 1, 2:03.79
Trenton Faulkner – 2, 2:04.00
Ernest Momodu – 3, 2:07.37
Ian Boit – 4, 2:18.68
3000 Meter
Mathew Keitany – 1, 8:52.16
4x400 Relay
Faulkner, Momodu, Opiew, Boit – 1, 3:50.11
Pole Vault
Matthew Frazier – 3, 4.03m
Long Jump
Nicholas Stanislaus – 1, 6.75m
Triple Jump
Nicholas Stanislaus – 1, 13.34m
WOMEN'S RESULTS
400 Meter
Chloe Knepp – 2, 1:04.34
800 Meter
Brittany Page – 1, 2:39.51
Hope Laughlin – 6, 2:53.53
3000 Meter
Kyra Young – 1, 11:17.00
Hope Laughlin – 6, 12:39.23
4x400 Relay
Knepp, Young, Page, Koenig – 2, 4:42.40
Shot Put
Giorgia Fino – 8, 9.68m